Moored mine sweeping method and device



0a. 10, 1950 'w. G. WHITE 2,

MOORED mm: SWEEPING METHOD AND DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1942 2 Sheets-$heet1 INVENTOR BY NGRDON Ml/TE ma WM w. G. WHITE uoonsn um: SWEEPING METHODAND DEVICE Oct'. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1. 1942 5 Hz ,6;50 4e 48 5/ 66' 43 '47 INVENTOR 200 Mrs Patented Oct. 10, 1950 MOOREDMINE SWEEPING METHO AND DEVICE r I Wilfrid Gordon White, United StatesNavy Application October 1, 194.2, Serial No. 460,465 I *7 Claims. (01.114-235) (Granted un'der the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 G. 757) This invention relates to minesweeping and particularly to an improved method of and apparatus forsweeping moored mines.

Prior art methods of sweeping for mooredz mines consist of towingthrough the mined area a sweep wire containing suitable cuttingapparatus for severing from its mooring the anchoring cables of themines engaged by the said sweep wire, thereby allowing the mine to floatclear of its anchoring means and to appear on the surface of the waterto afford an opportunity.

for detonation by means of rifle shot from aboard the towing vessel. Theprimary disadvantage to the use of these prior art methods is that theycan be executed only during hours of daylight;

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved ;method ofmine sweeping which will permit continuous sweeping of a'presumptivelymined rea.

The above object of my invention is obtained through the utilization ofa novel apparatus which operates upon collision with an anchoring cableof the mine so as to pass the said anchoring cable through the searchwire and into securing en-v gagement with a towing cable streamed fromsaid towing vessel. The engaged mine may be'then safely towed at adistance from the mine sweeper or may be transferred to another ship forcomplete recovery. By utilizing such an apparatus,

mine sweeping operations may be executed with increased safety forvessels streaming in formation in tactical sweeping. v It is also anobject of this invention to .provide apparatus suitable for carrying outthe above method.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device by means ofwhich the anchoring cable of the moored mine may be passed through thesweeping rigging to engage a hook secured to the end of a tow line.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent during the-f course of the following description of a singlespecific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a single ship sweep embodyingthe method of my inven-'- tion; Fig. 2 is a plan viewjof the gatemechanism usedinFig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged depressor utilized in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is anenlarged Otter utilized in Fig. 1;

perspective view of the perspective view of the I Fig. 5 is an enlarged.pe s'pective view of the.

float utilizedin Fig. 1 I

Fig.6 is an enlarged perspectivefviewof, the

traveler utilized in Fig. 1; v I

Fig. 'l is an enlarged elevational viewinjcross section of the vanedsupporting plate for the hook illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 8 is anelevational view in' cross section of thegate mechanism shown in Fig. 2,the sec? tion being taken on'line 8+8; and 7 Fig: 9 is aplanviews'howing, the-vaned sup porting plate'in'position on the sterngate.

Referring now to thedrawings andparticu-- larly to Fig. 1 whichillustrates the preferred form of my invention, the reference number [0designates the mine sweeping vessel of a single vessel sweep. Streamedfrom the stern of the 'vessel it] is a depressor tow rope H to which iss'e cured thedepressor 20. The details of the de-:v

pressor are shown enlarged in Fig. 3 and as illustratedinclude aplurality of parallel planing surfaces 2I secured to the side members 22and-23; The depressor is towed at an angle to the'sur face of the waterby means of a. three-legged bridle 24 which is secured to one of each ofthe side'members and to the middle brace 25 so-that thepressure of thewater acting on the plane surfaces 2| drives" the depressordownwardlyfto hold at a desired depth that portion of the sweep Wire I2which extends between the depressor bridle 24 and the traveler30.

rope I I. The travele'rasshowri enlarged inFig. 6 consists of a block 3|and a sheave 32 journaled therein. The sweep cable I2 is threadedthrough. theblock 3i and aboutthe sheave to engage the bridle 240i thedepressorlll. The other end of the sweep Wire 12 is secured to theinboard segment 4| of the outer g'ate ifl. The outboard s'eg-' otter Bilby means of a pendant i5.- V.

The details of the paravane orotterifill are clearly shown inFig. 4. Inconstruction the otter is similar to the depressor except'that afourlegged bridle 61 is used and the middle brace memberis not provided.A float l0 is secured to the bridle 6| ofthe otter 6c by means of 9.

- ment'42 of this gate is secured to a paravanel or 7 line I 8 thelength of'which controls :the".depth to which this'end of the sweep:wire is submerged. 1 The float I0 as shownin Fig; 5 consistsof atorpedo-shape buoyant chamber H designed to be towed by line I8 securedto the swivel 13 of the pivoted bale 72 which hangs beneath the Thetraveler 30 is shown secured-to the vessel ill-by means of the spanpendant .l3 fixed to the sweep side o f the {vessel at a point forwardof'the depressor tow rudder i7 serves the purpose of assisting the otterGil to sheer the sweep outward and away from the towing vessel. Thefloat as illustrated is also provided with a suitable flag it so that itmay perform the dual function of maintaining the search wire l2 at adesired depth and visibly marking the extremity of said sweep.

A rearwardly extending sweep wire [G is utilized to connect the outboardsegment 42 of the outer gate mechanism 60 with the outboard segment 92of a stern gate 56. The stern gate is towed by means of a trailer wireit at a distance astern and inboard the outer gate mechanism 48. A towwire it carrying. a snap hook I3 is fastened to a vane supporting plate888 so as to bepassed down the trailer wire i5 into apo'sition ofreceiving engagement'with the anchoring cable of the moored mine whichhas been encountered by the search cable i2, passed through the outergate mechanism as, swept astern and inboard along the sweeper wire it tothe entrance of the stern gate 90. The anchoring cable '0 of the mine Mon engagement with the snap hook it) shears thepins ltli to free thehook [S from the supporting plate IE3 so that the supporting plate andhook will be dropped clear or the stern gate 90; thus providing spacefor another supporting plate, hook, and tow line to be passed down thetrailer wire l6 into a position of abutting engagement with the inboardsegment SI of the stern gate 90 whereby to engage another anchoringcable of a mine on its passage through the stern gate 93. 7

Figs. 7 and 9 show in detail the structure of the vaned supporting plateI89 and the means for releasably securing the supporting plate to thetrailer wire [5 so that it may be passed down the trailer wire into aposition of abutting engagement with the segment 9! of the stern gate 80and severed from the trailer wire IE. after the anchoring cable hascompleted its path through the stern gate 90. The hook i9 is removablysecured to the supporting plate Hit by the shear pins "till so as toproject into thepath of the anchoring cable of the mine M to engage thesaid anchoring cable. as it traverses the circuitous path formed b y theprofile of thejl segments 9| and 92 of the stern gate 99. As illustratedin Fig. 7 the forward portion of the vaned supporting plate Hill isconfigured toprovide a recess 192 for the trailer wire [6. A cap I03covers this recess to completely encompass the wire it thus securing theplate )9 to the wire but providing suflicient play between the cap,plate, and wire to permit the plate to move down the wire by thatcomponent of the resultant force of the water acting upon the vane Ht asit is towed through the water, which has a direction along the saidwire. The cap IE3 has an opening [66 formed in its surface to receivethe projecting lug, I05. The eyebolt 1&6 through which the tow line;lilis inserted ispassed through a drilled opening H3? formed in the lugN35 to hold the hook from its supporting plate the bight it! of the towline it permits the hook engaged cable lto pass through the stern gatebefore the tow forces are transmitted to the eyebolt I05 shearing thepin H33 and withdrawing the eyebolt I06 from the-opening l0! releasingthe cover I03 from securing engagement with the plate I00 so that theplate and cover will fall apart free" of the trailer wire it.

As may be noted from Fig. '7 the vane H0 projects downward so that theplate H39 will ride down the wire 16 at an angle with the surface ofthe'water to prevent the edge of the plate from fouling against the edgesurface of the inboard segment 9| of the stern gate 99 assuring that thesupporting plate will pass down the trailer wire I6 into its properposition of abutting engagement with the lug to which the wire I6 issecured. The pins and bolts which project above the surface of thesegment Ql are preferably covered with a smooth surface plate H2. Such acover plate is illustrated in Fig. 8 although in actual practice thisplate would be used only on the stern gate 90.

The outer gate and stern gate are substantially identical inconstruction and are illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 8. In Figs. 2and 8 the outboard gate 48 is shown as made up of two segments 4! and42. Each of these segments consist specifically of an upper and lowerplate 434& and t3':i4l, respectively. Each pair of-plates aremaintained-in a'spaced'apart assembled relation by means of a pluralityof throughbolts 5 defining a void therebetween. These two segments 4!and 42 form the gate mechanism it permitting passage therethrough of themine cable 0 upon collision therewith. The inner edge segments 4| and42, respectively.

To provide the minimum geometrical constrain-t necessary to maintain thetwo segments in fixed position relative to each other with theirinternal edges laterally displaced; a portion of the flanged Wheel 4465which is rotatably supported in the top and bottom plate 33 and M of thesegment 4! projects into the space provided between the spaced apartplates 43 and 44' of the segment 42. Likewise a portion of the flangewheel 41 which is re tatably supported in the top and bottom plates 43and 25 of the segment 42 projects into the space provided between thespace plates 43 and 4 of the segment ll'. These flange wheels areretained in" the segmentsinto which they pr0-' trude by two pair ofrollers for each flanged wheel, journaled in the plates into which thewheel projects so as to engage the inner peripheral surface of the rimof each wheel to retain the two segments in a fixed spaced relation, sothat the spaced inner edges of each segment forms a circuitouspassageway 49 extending longitudinally of said segments. The rollers ta-52' are se-' cured respectively to the, top and bottom plates 43'-M' ofthe segment iz to engage the inner surface of the axially andperipherally extending rim of the wheel 56.. The pair of rollers 5l'-53are also supported to rotate about a shaftsecured respectively in thetop and bottom plates 43' and r 44. These rollersalso engage; the innersurfaces of the axially and peripherally extending rim of the wheel lfi.Y

Similarly thepairs of and 59: 4.53

flanged wheel 41. since 'the centerof 'the fianged wheel 41 and theaxes; of rollers Ely- 52- and 5l-53 are fixed in spaced relation to eachother, and since the center of the wheel 46 and the axes' 'of thero1lers-5052 and5l -53' are also fixed and spaced relative to eachother: the two segments are geometrically constrained since they cannotbe forced outwardly because of engagement between the rollers and theinner periphery of the wheels 464! and cannot be forced inwardly anysubstantial distance because of the engagement of wheels46 and 41 withbolts 45 and their associated structure as ShoWnby' F-igure2.

As illustrated, the axes of the rollers 56+52, 51-53, 56'-52' and5l-'53' are respectively offset so -that each pair of rollers engagedifferent spaced points on the inner peripheral surfaces of: the upperand lower axially extending fiangesof their respective wheels. Therollers'a're offsetgso that they will not fall into the radial s'lots 55and 56 formed in each wheel after the rollers ride over the flangesurface of the said Wheel. If both rollers were in axial alignment bothcould'fall into the slot 5556 or 55-56' of the wheels 46 or 41',-respectively, to destroy the geometrical constraint set up by therollers and Wheels. The bracket arms 48 are added to strengthen theplates 'to which the rollers are rotatably secured to maintain theroller axes in their fixed spaced apart position. l i

These radially extending and diametrically disposed slots 55 and 56of'the wheel 43 and the radially extending and diametrically disposedslots 55--56' of the wheel 41 are cut radially-inwardly of theirrespective wheels a distance suiificient to enable the cable 0 of anengaged mine to traverse the passageway 49. For example, a'cableentering the slot 55 Will traverse substantially half the circuitouspassageway 49 by producing a counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 46through substantially 180. The cable is then free to leave the slot 55of the Wheel 46. and enter the slot 55 of the wheel 41 where thepassageway 49 curves in an opposite direction thus producing rotation ofthe wheel 41 in a clockwise direction of substantially 180 to permit thecable to traverse the remaining portion of the circuitous passageway 49.After each wheel completes the 180 rotation the slots 56 and 56' areeach brought into a position of alignment with the passageway 49 toreceive the next cable to be passed by the gate mechanism.

To prevent the flanged wheels 46 and 41 from taking any position otherthan the positions illustrated wherein the slots 5556 or 55--56' remainin alignment with the straight entrance portion to each half of thecircuitous passageway 49, two notched recesses 57 and 58 are provided atdiametrically opposed points on the outer rim surface of the wheel 46,and two notched recesses 51 and 58 are likewise provided atdiametrically opposed points on the outer rim surface of the wheel 41.The notched recesses 41 and 58 of the wheel 46 are adapted'to besuccessively engaged by a detent 63 formed integrally with the arm-65for the bell crank lever 64. The arms 65-and 66 of the bell crank lever64 are axially olfset so that the arm 65 to which the detent 63 issecured 1:

extends along the peripheral surface of the rim of the wheel 46 whereasthe other arm 66 is positioned to extend between the rim of the Wheeland the plates 4444' and to project across the passagway 49. A spring 67is provided to bias the bell crank lever 64 into a position maintainingarses,863

surfacelof the -wheel 4 6 ;so that the. said detent Will engage'the-recess formed thereinitonthereby stop the wheel in a position,whereinitheislotz55 or:*56 willfbeainzalignmentawith theupassageway 49.when theicable'c begins-to traverseithe pas sagew'ay 49; betweensegments 4| -'and;42 lit-Twill strike: the end 66. of *thetbell crankilever} 64 to cause the belllcrank lever to rotate on'i -itsiaxestherebyi'lifting the detent63 out ofits'ilposition of engagement withthe notchedlrecessz5'l formed in theflanged wheel 46.4 The .wheel' willthus-be free to rotate and the'rdetentwill be retained in the elevatedposition freefrom contact withthe surface of the wheel 46 ;until theslot 55 has cleared the detent 63 thus assuring rotation of the wheel toa position displaced by 180;to bring theother, notched recess 58 intoengagement with the detent 63 to stop furtherrotationof the wheel at aposition wherein the passageway 49 and the slot:56are in alignment. 1-.i a

The wheel 41 is similarly provided witlna bell crank lever 64' whichhas'axia'll-y offset arnls' and 66'. The arm 66' extends into thepassageway 49 so as to be engagedby the cable c to lift the other arm65' to which'a detent63' is secured to a position free from'engagementwith the sur-I The bell crank lever' 64' face of :the wheel, 41. is alsoprovided with'a spring; 61 Which main tainsfthe arm 65 of the' leverinto-a depressed position of engagement with the outer surface of thewheel 41, so asto stop the wheel-after each rotation by forcing thedetent 63'intoeither of the notched recesses 5158.:

' V i In'the' invention asdisclosed, a single vessel sweep is provided,however, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention may also be readily applied to a two vessel-sweep; It

should also be understood that the inventionin its broadestaspects isnotlimited to the specific mechanism shown and described but departures maybe made therefrom within the scope of the subjoined claims withoutdeparture from'the 1. The method of sweeping formo'ored'mines,

which includes the steps of searching a presump tively mined areaLbytowingva submerged sweep through said area to engagethe anchoring cablesof moored mines contained therein, passing the engaged anchoring cableof said mine' through said sweep, and securing a tow line to saidanchoring cable after said anchoring cable has passed through saidsweep.

2. The method of sweepingfor. moored'mines' comprising the steps ofsearching a presumptively mined area by towing a submerged sweep throughsaid area to engagethe anchoring cables of the moored mines containedwithin said area, passing the engaged anchoring cable of saidminethrough 7 said sweep, and securing said anchoring cable to a towline upon passing said anchoring cable through said sweep. f 3. In adevice adapted to be used in a system for continuouslyswe'eping'moored'mines, the comfl bination which includes, .a first pair"of plates,

means securing said first pair of plates together J to define a spacetherebetween, a circular member having an axially flanged rim journaledfor rotation within the space defined by saidplatea a:

7 that a portion thereof projettsiexteriorlypfysaid plates, asecond pairof plates, means securingsaid second pair of plates togethento definei'aspace "therebetween, a second circular memberhaving an axially flangedrim'journaled for rotationwithin said space, so that a portion thereofprojects exteriorly of said plates, a plurality, of rollers journaled ineach of said pairs of iplates'for engaging at peripherally spaced.points the inner surface of the axially and peripherallyextending rim ofthe exteriorly projecting portions of said circular members when saidportions are each inserted into the space enclosed by said other pair ofplates to retain said pairs of plates in rigid spaced position withtheir surface edges defining a passageway therethrough, and meanscomprising radial slots in the circular members cooperable with thepassageway adapted'to produce rotation of the said circular members asan anchoring cable of a moored mine travels freely through said devicealong the passageway defined by the spacededges of said pairs of plates.

4.. The invention defined in claim 3icharacterized further by the factthat the axes of the rollers journaled in one plate of one of said pairsof plates are out of alignment with the axis of the rollers journaled inthe other plate of said one pair of plates, whereby to engage theperiphery of the flanged rim at different points;

5. In a mine sweeping device, comprising. a towing vessel, a search linefixedly connected to said vessel for engaging the anchoring cable ofmoored mines when towed througha mined. area, means maintaining saidsearch line in an.out-

wardly extending direction transverse .to the z-z,"

course of said vessel, a first and second gate means each havingseparate'inboard andoutboard segments, rotatable means maintaining thesegments of each of said gate means in assembled relation withoutpreventing passage between said segments of the anchoring cable-of, amine engaged by said search line, means securing the inboard segment ofsaid first gate to said search line, means securing the outboard segmentof said first gate to said first named means, a sweep line securing saidoutboard segment of saidfirst gate to the outboard segment ofsaid'second gate, a trailer wire connecting the inboard segment of saidsecond gate to said towing vesselsoithat said second gate will be towedinboard andzastern of said first gate and in a position to engage theanchoring cable of said mine after it has passed through said first gatetraveling inboard and astern along said sweep line to said second gate,

and means for passing down saidtrailer wire a separate towing meansadapted to engage an an.-; choring cable of each mine as it passes saidsecond gate. V i

6. In a minesweeping apparatus the combination of ,a search line adaptedtoengage the anchoring cable of a moored mine,'means for maintainingsaid search line in an outstretched position laterally of the forwarddirection of sweep, gate means positioned within said search linesecured to said first named means and adapted to pass anengagedanchoring cable of a mine rearwardly of said search line, asecond gate means secured to the first means positioned rearwardlythereof and adapted to pass an engaged anchoring cable of a minepreviously passed by the first gate means, and a towing means secured tosaid second gate means adapted to engage said an-, shoring cable uponthe passage of said cable through said second ate means whereby to pro-,vide a continuous sweeping of a mined area by securing to each mineencountered therein a separate towing means. I j

'7. In a device adapted to be used in a system for continuously sweepingmoored mines, thecombination which includes a first member having acurved inner edge, a second member having a curved inner edge, rotatablemeans securing said members together and having a radially extendingslot therein for initially receiving the anchor ing cable of a mooredmine in a radial direction of the rotatable means, said inner edgescooperatively defining a curved passageway for guiding said cable duringsaid initial movement in' a direc tion to impart rotation to saidrotatable means, and detent means normally retaining the rotatable meansagainst rotation, said detent means being releasable upon engagementtherewith by the cable as it enters said, slot.

WILFRID GORDON WHITE.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 219,153 Frazee Sept. 2, 18791,582,388 Elia Apr. 27, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 104,037Great Britain Feb. 22, 1917

